Associate Director, Americas

Associate Director, Americas. Washington, D.C.. Posting Date: 03/10/2025. Deadline: 03/21/2025

Role Title:  Associate Director, Americas

Contract Type: Permanent

Reporting To:  Director, Geographic Communications

Department: Communications

Location: Washington D.C.

Team description

Communications plays a central role in the work of the Foundations by coordinating and strengthening the public presence of the global network and by helping to advance relevant issues. Communications works to raise the Foundations’ public profile by promoting the network’s many noteworthy achievements as well as responding to attacks from opponents of open society around the world.

Role Purpose 

The Associate Director, Americas will be responsible for the development and implementation of communications and media strategies that position key Open Society Foundations’ messages, people, and grantees on our communications channels covering the Americas. This role will also lead on communications related to congressional reviews and DC-based foreign policy initiatives, and manage communications work related to opportunities allocated by the Managing Director’s office.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of Communications Officers to develop and manage the implementation of communications strategies, key messages, and tactics for advancing our priorities in the Americas

• Draft speeches, talking points, op-eds, press releases, social content, and other communications materials

• Design communications strategies and workplans to proactively elevate Open Society’s work across in the Americas, advising leadership on communications and media opportunities or challenges.

• Lead on or support crisis communications in the U.S.

• Manage media relationships and partnerships with top-tier media in the Americas, securing high profile media opportunities for Open Society leadership and spokespeople.

• Design and lead communications and media trainings for Open Society leadership, staff, and grantees.

• Identify possible communications challenges or risks and develops comprehensive strategies to mitigate them.

• Coach teams to innovate and strengthen communications skills. 

• Manage projects, external consultants, and relevant budgets.

• Develop strong, effective relationships with other teams and departments across the organization, particularly Geographic Policy Groups and Programs.

People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)

Yes (1 Communication Officer)

Key internal relationships

Managing Directors’ offices; Communications and Advocacy teams; Geographic Leads and Policy Groups; Opportunity teams; and Grantees; Executive Offices; Office of the General Counsel

Key external relationships

Media Partners and Trainers; Journalists and Editors; and Public Relations firms

The ideal candidate

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent)

• Prior career progression managing external communications in the international not-for-profit, public, or private sectors, or as a journalist

• People management experience preferably with cross-border and cross-regional teams (both projects and direct teams)

• Deep political understanding of the U.S. political system and extensive experience working with Congress and other branches of the U.S. government

• Proven track record of effective reputation management

• Experience working on issues within our priority areas of human rights, democratic practice, equity and justice in the U.S. and Latin America

• Comprehensive, specialized knowledge of communications tactics and media relations in Washington DC

• Experience developing and managing communications strategies and campaigns in support of advocacy objectives

• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders, interests, complex political and cultural factors, and management of long- and short-term goals

• Experience acting as spokesperson for government official or other high-profile public representation capacity

• Strategic leadership capability and discipline; able to manage division effectively, deliver on organisational purpose

• Excellent project management skills

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